Who Are Meira Paibis? Women Torchbearers Protest In Manipur

Society considers women's bodies as battlefields when the country is at war. But it is this society that respects the country as a feminine entity. You must be aware of the violence happening in the state of Manipur. In that too, women were targeted. They were raped, paraded naked and were filmed. But when no one came to their rescue, the women of Manipur took up the responsibility of not only saving women from the animalism of men but also the state. Meet Meira Paibis, the women torchbearers of Manipur who have been protesting against the violence in the state and have not backed down despite the opposition. 

The most recent demonstration of the Meira Paibis

Meira Paibis are also known as Imas or Mothers of Manipur. They are a group of women from the Meitei community of Manipur who came together from different sections of the society in Imphal Valley to protest against the violence. Their most recent protest was against the army militants who shot down two security personnel in Moreh, a town located on the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district. 

The women bearing the torch marched towards the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh's official residence. The women protestors shouted slogans condemning the latest gunfight and the violence happening in Manipur since last year. They also demanded the scrapping of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) deal sealed with the militant group to start a political dialogue. Meira Paibis tried to get inside the residence of the chief minister but was stopped by the police. 

Before this, women were protesting to demand the removal of central forces from the state and to get it replaced by other units of force.

The Kangla Fort protest

The most significant protest of these women activists was on July 15, 2004, against the Indian Army. The women made a naked march against the Indian Army because of the brutal rape and murder of 34-year-old Thangjam Manorama. The protests, popularly known as the Kangla Protest, shook the entire nation. 12 women gathered at the Kangla Fort located at the heart of Imphal and the then headquarters of Assam Rifle and disrobed themselves. They held placards that had “Indian Army Rape Us”, and “Indian Army Take Our Flesh” written in red.  

Manorama was picked up by the Assam Rifles in front of her family members. They raped her and then shot rather private parts.  

In an interview with The Wire, Lourembam Nganbi, a leader of Meira Paibis said, "Since then, we have lost faith in Assam Rifles and all central forces, and that’s why we Meira Paibis have to take care of our land."

Saving Kuki women who were raped and paraded naked

When the news of Kuki community women being raped and paraded naked by the Meitei community led to a nationwide outrage, the women of Meira Paibis were accused of being an accomplice. FIRs were registered against Meira Paibis for assaulting and raping Kuki women. But this didn't stop these women activists from protecting their state. 

Speaking to The Wire Nganbi said, "We are against everyone who is doing wrong in our state – no matter which ethnicity they are from. Two Kuki women were paraded naked but the ones who helped them survive and gave them clothes were Meira Paibis. We condemn such instances, and we believe that this incident should be investigated."